The NYPD is asking for the public’s help after a woman was beaten and nearly raped along a Central Park roadway before sunrise, with detectives now zeroing in on a suspect caught on camera.
Police say a man allegedly tried to rape a 44-year-old woman near West Drive and West 64th Street in the early morning hours, leaving her with cuts to her head. She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to the NYPD. The attacker ran off, and investigators are now combing through tips and video to track him down.
Police release image, urge public to call Crime Stoppers
As reported by New York Daily News, investigators have released a surveillance photo of the man they are trying to identify and are urging anyone who recognizes him to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. Detectives say the image is a key part of the investigation as they pursue multiple leads and review both park surveillance footage and any video captured by bystanders.
Latest attack follows earlier Central Park case
The new alert comes only months after a separate March incident in Central Park that ended with an arrest. According to CBS New York, officers took 30-year-old Lateef Caldwell into custody in late March after bystanders chased an attacker near East 109th Street and East Drive. He was charged with attempted rape and related offenses.
Witnesses praised in March attack response
In that March case, police credited three strangers nearby with shouting and chasing the suspect until officers could step in, a split-second response that helped get the victim to safety, ABC7 New York reported. Detectives say they are again calling on anyone who was in the area during the latest incident to check their phone videos and photos and to reach out if they see anything that could help.
Advocacy groups spoke out after the earlier attack as well. The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement condemning the violence and urging New Yorkers to support survivors. For more background on the March response and arrest in the park, see Hoodline’s earlier coverage in Central Park Heroes Tackle Suspect.
Anyone with information about the current case can contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, text TIP577 to 274637, or submit an anonymous tip online, in line with the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers guidance. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
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